James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

44. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the fact that the shortfall in central funding to universities, in addition to the lack of overlap between funding schemes for academic posts and research staff, is narrowing options for early career stage academics and may lead to a loss of domestic talent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16502/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Human capital is a critical factor in reaping economic and social rewards from investment in research. Innovation 2020, Ireland’s strategy for Research and Development, Science and Technology proposes the development of career pathways for researchers to help them maximise their potential and, as a consequence, help to maximise the return on Ireland’s investment in innovation and research.

In this regard the Irish Universities Association is developing a draft framework to address these issues. Success in initiatives such as Horizon 2020 will be maximised if researchers are being supported from an early-stage to improve their, and Ireland’s, research impact. 

The Expert Group on Future Funding for Higher Education, was established to develop a strategy for funding the third level sector. The report outlines the funding challenges in the sector and offers recommendations for the medium term.  As committed to in the Programme for Government, the report has been referred to the Education Committee for consideration.

In the short term, in Budget 2017 an additional €36.5m has been made available with €160m additional overall agreed for the next three years. This is the first time in nine years that additional Exchequer funding has been secured for the higher education sector. This will assist with demographic increases and initiatives on disadvantage, skills, research and flexible learning.

My Department, and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, are currently undertaking a public consultation process on a proposed Exchequer-Employer investment mechanism for the higher and further education sectors.  The mechanism, which estimates an increase in the National Training Fund levy from 0.7% to 1% between 2018 and 2020, could yield an additional €200m revenue in 2020. Details of the process are available on the websites of both Departments.

It is  approaches such as these that will contribute to and inform the development of a long-term sustainable funding model for the higher education sector.

In addition to the work being done by the Irish Research Council in the area of human capital, I provided funding in Budget 2017 for the Council to commence in 2017 a new Frontiers Research Programme, which will enable the next generation of researchers to transition to Principal Investigator status.